First Assistant Secretary, Enterprise Technology Division

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; Canberra; On-site; AUD 240,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) in Canberra seeks an SES Band 2 leader to serve as Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer. You will guide enterprise technology strategy, cyber security, and ICT services across the department and partner agencies.

The role balances operational excellence with strategic stewardship, enabling transformation, resilience and inclusive, secure digital services for a complex multi-agency environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior executive experience leading ICT and digital services in a complex organisation.
• Experience as CIO or CSO or equivalent senior technology executive.
• Strong cyber security leadership, governance and risk management skills.
• Proven track record delivering major technology transformation and uplift programs.

Responsibilities

• Shape the department's technology strategy, architecture and investment priorities for enterprise-wide impact.
• Deliver secure, reliable enterprise services across the department and partner agencies.
• Lead cyber security strategy, governance and assurance activities with effective risk management.
• Drive technology-enabled transformation using data and innovation to improve capability and service delivery.
• Oversee major technology investments, procurement and partnerships to ensure value for money and governance.

Skills

Senior executive leadership

Chief Information Officer

Cyber security leadership

Digital transformation

Governance & risk management

Education

Tertiary qualifications in IT or related

Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CGEIT, ITIL, TOGAF

Job description

• Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 2
• Canberra, ACT

About The Department Of Employment And Workplace Relations

We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as we ourselves strive to be a model employer.

We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or re-training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the department of great jobs- where our people reflect our purpose.

About The Enterprise Technology Division

The Enterprise Technology Division (ETD) provides the technology foundations that enable DEWR and partner agencies to deliver services, support operations and achieve strategic outcomes.

The division is responsible for enterprise platforms, cyber security, infrastructure, cloud services, digital workplace technologies, service management, architecture and technology governance. It ensures technology environments are secure, reliable and scalable, while supporting innovation and organisational transformation.

Working closely with business areas, partner agencies and the Digital Experience and Solutions Division, Enterprise Technology Division plays a critical role in enabling modern, connected and high-performing government services.

About The Role

We are seeking an exceptional technology leader to help shape DEWR's future and ensure the department is positioned to meet the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving digital environment.

As First Assistant Secretary, Enterprise Technology Division, you will serve as the department's Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, leading the technology platforms, cyber security capabilities and operational ICT services that underpin the department's work and support a number of partner agencies.

Beyond leading a significant technology function, you will contribute to enterprise-wide decision-making and strategic stewardship across DEWR. You will help shape the department's approach to technology, cyber security, digital enablement and organisational transformation, ensuring technology investments deliver secure, sustainable and impactful outcomes.

Supporting a complex, multi-agency environment, you will balance operational excellence with long-term strategic thinking. You will anticipate emerging risks and opportunities, guide major technology decisions and create the conditions for innovation, resilience and continuous improvement.

Working closely with the First Assistant Secretary, Digital Experience and Solutions Division, you will help ensure technology, data and digital capabilities work together to support the department's priorities, service delivery objectives and future ambitions.

As an SES Band 2, your success will be measured not only by the performance of Enterprise Technology Division, but by your contribution to the capability, culture, governance and long-term stewardship of DEWR as a whole.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Shape the department's technology future. Lead the development of enterprise technology strategy, architecture and investment priorities, ensuring technology supports departmental objectives, enables transformation and positions DEWR for future challenges and opportunities.
• Deliver secure and reliable enterprise services. Oversee the provision of stable, high-performing and customer-focused technology services across the department and partner agencies, maintaining a strong focus on service quality, resilience and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen cyber security and organisational resilience. Lead the department's cyber security strategy, governance and assurance activities, ensuring risks are managed appropriately and responses to emerging threats are effective and coordinated.
• Drive technology-enabled transformation. Use technology, data and innovation to improve organisational capability, enhance service delivery and support better outcomes across the department and partner agencies.
• Steward public resources responsibly. Provide oversight of significant technology investments, budgets, procurement activities and commercial partnerships to ensure value for money, effective risk management and strong public sector stewardship.
• Build enduring capability and leadership. Develop future leaders, strengthen organisational resilience and cultivate the capability, culture and expertise required to deliver current priorities while preparing for emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Influence beyond organisational boundaries. Establish trusted relationships across government, industry and partner agencies, representing the department in senior forums and contributing to whole-of-government technology, cyber security and digital agendas.
• Support Closing the Gap through technology leadership. Ensure technology strategies, platforms and digital services are designed with inclusion, accessibility and user needs in mind, partnering with First Nations stakeholders where appropriate and considering how technology can improve outcomes and access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
• Contribute to enterprise leadership. Work collaboratively with the Secretary, Executive and senior leaders to strengthen organisational performance, capability and culture while supporting the department's long-term strategic direction.

Qualifications and Education

To succeed in this role, you will have a demonstrated track record leading complex technology environments, driving transformation and delivering secure, reliable services at scale. Highly desirable experience and qualifications include:

• Extensive senior executive experience leading large-scale ICT and digital services within a complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience as a Chief Information Officer, Chief Information Security Officer or equivalent senior technology executive.
• Significant experience in cyber security leadership, governance and risk management.
• Experience leading major technology transformation, uplift or modernisation programs.
• Tertiary qualifications in information technology, computer science, engineering, cyber security, business or a related discipline.
• Relevant industry certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CGEIT, SABSA, ITIL, TOGAF or equivalent are desirable.

Eligibility

At DEWR we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and seek to recruit staff with a wide range of backgrounds, skill levels, disciplines and working styles. If this role resonates with you and you are excited about making an impact, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Citizenship

to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance

our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Negative Level 2 security clearance.

Please refer to the Job Information Pack for more information about the role.